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Research Questions

What percentage of congregations in the U.S. provide mental health programming?

What congregational characteristics are associated with providing mental health programming?

Objective

This study assessed the prevalence of and factors associated with congregation-based programming in support of people with mental illness.

Methods

To estimate the proportion of congregations that provide mental health programming, this study reports analyses of survey responses from the 2012 National Congregations Study, a nationally representative survey of religious congregations in the United States (N=1,327). The analysis used multivariate logistic regression to identify congregational characteristics associated with the provision of mental health programming.

Results

Nearly one in four U.S. congregations (23%) provided some type of programming to support people with mental illness. Approximately 31% of all attendees belonged to a congregation that provided mental health programming. Congregational characteristics associated with providing mental health programming included having more members and having members with higher incomes, employing staff for social service programs, and providing health-focused programs. Other significant predictors included engaging with the surrounding community (that is, conducting community needs assessments and hosting speakers from social service organizations) and being located in a predominantly African-American community.

Conclusions

Greater coordination between mental health providers and congregations with programs that support people with mental illness could foster more integrated and holistic care, which in turn may lead to improved recovery outcomes.

Key Findings

Nearly a quarter of congregations in the United States provide mental health programming.

More than 30 percent of people who attend congregations belonged to congregations that provided such programming.

Research conducted by

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